Lam Research Corp. (Nasdaq: LRCX) and New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science (NY Creates) are partnering on a five-year program aimed at training about 3,500 college and university students in semiconductor process integration.
The collaboration will use Lam Research’s SEMulator3D virtual fabrication software, part of its Semiverse Solutions portfolio, across NY Creates’ network of partner colleges and universities in the Northeast. The initiative is designed to give students practical experience in semiconductor manufacturing processes without requiring access to physical cleanrooms, wafers, or fabrication equipment.
The partnership comes as the semiconductor industry faces a growing shortage of engineers with hands-on experience in process integration. As chip architectures become more complex and manufacturers move toward increasingly advanced process nodes, universities face challenges providing students with exposure to the equipment, materials, and fabrication environments used in commercial semiconductor production.
The cost of building and operating such facilities can also limit the number of students who receive practical training. Virtual fabrication offers an alternative by allowing students to simulate manufacturing processes and examine how individual steps affect the final device.
SEMulator3D uses physics-based simulation to replicate semiconductor fabrication processes, including etch, deposition, and lithography. Students can use the platform to design, analyze, and optimize virtual fabrication flows and examine how different process decisions interact.
The software is intended to move semiconductor education beyond theoretical instruction by allowing students to explore manufacturing trade-offs and understand why particular process decisions are made. Lam Research said the platform can help students develop process integration skills before entering a physical fabrication environment.
“Preparing the next generation of semiconductor engineers requires more than classroom instruction,” said David Fried, chief AI officer and corporate vice president for Semiverse Solutions at Lam Research. He said the collaboration is intended to give students access to practical process integration experience before they begin working in semiconductor fabrication facilities.
NY Creates owns and operates the Albany NanoTech Complex, a nonprofit-led 300mm semiconductor research and development site in Albany, New York. The organization works with colleges, universities, industry and government partners on semiconductor research and workforce development.
Robert Geer, vice president for education and workforce development at NY Creates, said the partnership will bring virtual fabrication capabilities to partner institutions and provide students with experience aligned with advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
The program is expected to develop semiconductor process integration coursework focused on advanced logic technologies and modern fabrication flows. It will also use SEMulator3D to provide virtual, hands-on learning across NY Creates’ workforce development network.
Beyond individual institutions, the initiative is intended to support broader regional workforce development efforts. NY Creates serves as the Regional Node lead for the National Network for Microelectronics Education (NNME) Northeast, helping coordinate collaboration among education and industry organizations across the region.
The partnership reflects a broader push by governments, semiconductor companies, universities, and research organizations to strengthen the talent pipeline supporting new chip manufacturing investments. The United States is expanding domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing capacity, increasing demand for engineers and technicians familiar with advanced fabrication processes.
For universities, virtual manufacturing platforms could provide a way to broaden access to industry-oriented training without the capital requirements associated with physical fabrication facilities. For semiconductor companies, the approach could help expose students to process integration concepts earlier in their education.
The five-year Lam Research and NY Creates program is expected to reach approximately 3,500 students, extending semiconductor process integration training across a wider academic network in the Northeast. The initiative places virtual fabrication technology alongside traditional engineering education as the region works to prepare workers for increasingly complex semiconductor manufacturing environments.
